SMB GETS NEW CHAIRMAN AND IT IS NOT THE PRESIDENT??
The composition of the board of directors of the Seychelles Marketing Board (SMB) was made public last week. According to a communiqué from State House, President Michel has reviewed the membership of the board of directors of SMB and has appointed Danny Faure, the Minister for Finance, confidant and protégé of Mr. Rene as its new chairperson for a period of three years. This appointment is a remarkable departure from past practices. Since its inception SMB has always had the sitting president as chairman; that was the case even when Mr. Michel held the finance portfolio.
The reason for this break with tradition is not known, but it has not prevented the public from speculating that the appointment must have been ordered by the party’s (SPPF) hierarchy to prevent Michel from learning more than he should about the affairs of SMB. The other members of the new board are: Patrick Vel the new chief executive officer of SMB, Marie-Pierre Lloyd, Patrick Stravens, Lekha Nair, Antione-Marie Moustache and Jean-Paul Adam. Mr. Michel on assuming the presidency almost three years ago promised the gradual liberalisation of the SMB. We have seen very little in that particular direction from the President since, another promise not kept.